Table 2.
Summary of findings: Sedative compared with different dosage (or method application) of the same sedative for children needing dental care
| Patient or population: children needing dental care Setting: hospital Intervention: sedative Comparison: placebo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Outcomes | Number of participants (studies) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments |
|
Any behavioural score Midazolam (any mode of delivery) |
394 (10) |
⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ VERY LOW1 |
There is insufficient evidence to determine whether any specific dose of intranasal midazolam is effective There is weak evidence from two trials that oral midazolam at a dose of 0.5–0.75 mg/kg is an effective sedative for children. However, one trial administered both nitrous oxide and midazolam so it is difficult to attribute benefit to midazolam alone |
|
Any behavioural score Hydroxyzine |
30 (1) |
⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ VERY LOW1 |
There is insufficient evidence to determine whether any specific dose of hydroxyzine is effective |
|
Any behavioural score Dexmedetomidine |
44 (1) |
⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ VERY LOW1 |
There is insufficient evidence to determine whether any specific dose of dexmedetomidine is effective or whether intranasal administration is more or less effective than oral administration |
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High certainty: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect
Moderate certainty: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different
Low certainty: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect
Very low certainty: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect
1Downgraded for risk of bias, inconsistency and/or imprecision